Synthesis of Lead(II)\nCarbonate-Containing Nanoparticles\nUsing Ultrasonication or Microwave Irradiation

We report on the synthesis of lead(II) carbonate-containing\nnanoparticles\nusing the polyol process under high-energy ultrasound or microwave\nirradiation as alternate energization methods. Five carbonate source\nprecursors are used in the reaction, and the precipitation reactions\ngenerate four different crystal products, depending on the precursor.\nMore alkaline precursors produce the hydroxy-carbonate structures\n(abellaite, or its potassium analog, and hydrocerussite), while the\nless alkaline precursors produce the simple carbonate structure (cerussite).\nUltrasonication or microwave irradiation during the arrested precipitation\nensures the formation of nanoparticles <100 nm in diameter in a\nmostly single crystalline phase in all cases, bar one. The products\nwere characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, dynamic light scattering,\nelectron microscopy, infrared spectroscopy, and thermal analysis.\nThese nanoparticles are targeted as X-ray contrast agents for biological\nimaging, particularly of fine vasculature where small particle size\nis essential.